Crowns & Veneers

What Are Crowns?

A crown is a restoration that covers, or “caps,” a tooth to restore it to its normal shape and size, strengthening and improving the appearance of a tooth. Crowns are necessary when a tooth is generally broken down and fillings won’t solve the problem. If a tooth is cracked, a crown holds the tooth together to seal the cracks so the damage doesn’t get worse. Crowns are also used to support a large filling when there isn’t enough of the tooth remaining. A crown can protect weak teeth from fracturing, restore fractured teeth, or cover badly shaped or discolored teeth. In many cases a crown can be placed on a tooth that has been root canal treated, as root canaled teeth become more week and fragile after the root canal treatment.

Why crowns and not veneers?

Crowns require more tooth structure removal, hence, they cover more of the tooth than veneers. Crowns are stationary and are customarily indicated for teeth that have sustained significant loss of structure, or to replace missing teeth. Crowns may be placed on natural teeth or dental implants.

Veneers are like a fingernail and unlike crowns do not cover all surfaces of a tooth. Veneers can be used to change the esthetics of a tooth such as discolored tooth or teeth that need minimal alignment. Veneers can also help to change the look and shape of your teeth.

Ask our dentist if you think you would like to prevent breakage of teeth with large fillings or change the look of any of your teeth.